New Britain Herald Newspaper, November 23, 1918, Page 5

NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1918, /5 e T . 7 i A . ey =S — — N e K e ——— —_— e L T e —— AUN SUNSET REFLECTS NEW U.S.RAINBOW IN DYE CONTROL g By Charles K. Weston utary autocracy ol Germaary is beaten to its knees and the victorious Allies have pre sented their terms of armistice, what iz to happen when the great Teuton chemical and explosive establishments eg: turn their attention to the enor- nous fields of pre-war trade which they held so securely? Can they win back that absolute domination in the dye trade which gave them a stranglehold on our t tile, leather and other dye-consuming industries? Can they divide the world up into water-tight compartments by their system of selling dyes not to be exported, so that they can put up the price to one nation and down to an- other? In other words, can they once more reduce the world to a condition of industrial slavery as regards the in- dustries that depended on the dyes “made in Germany”? Let us never forget this—that Ger- many had an absolute monopoly of dves. Our textile and related indus- tries, with their 34,000,000 spindles and 730,000 looms, depended on dyes. The number of wage earners engaged in the cotton industry alone numbers mere than 400,000. The capital in- vested in this industry is about $900, 000,000. The annual output of goods is worth $1,500,000,000, including gray goods and colored. . The dependence on dyes is also true of the woolen, silk, leather, paper and other dyestuff- consuming industries Pre-War German Monopoly When war started in 1914 the world was at the mercy of the German dye manufacturers. Remember this—no matter what competition there was in Germany for German trade among German dye firms, there was never iny competition for outside trade. There was the closest co-operation on the part of the German dye monopo- lists to squeeze the outside man. Stand. together against the world, maintain’ Germany's monopoly .at all costs, was the policy in Kaiserland. The American business man in 1914 was shocked into a realization of his industrial peril and dependency. He awoke with a vengeance. Chemists busied themselves in their laborato ries. Far-sighted business men began to plan for industrial liberation from the thrall of the German dye men Great explosive companies, ‘like du Ponts, of Wilmington, began to delve into and solve German dye trade -secrets, What is now the result? When the German master minds of the dye trade survey the fleld of their former commercial triumphs they will find that the old German monopoly ship of dyes has been “spurlos ver- senkt,” sunk without a trace, and that in its stead the new modern Ameri- canbuilt and American-manned dye business has grown to full proportions .nd wants nothing better than a fight for world supremacy ser’s commercial legio Whatever the an propagandists may say truthfully about the world monopoly which the German dye man ufacturers had before the war began. and whatever they may say in a spiri of hope about a return to this world control after the war, there is one great outstanding fact to hearten the American user of dyed fabrics; and that is that the American chemist has, beyond question, solved the dye prob- lem America’s Answer American dyes, equal to any Ger- man manufacturers ever put upon the market, are now being produced and it remains only for the manufacturers to so order their affairs that they can successfully meet the German compe- tition which a return of peace will bring. The collapse of the dve industry, when the source of supply was shut off in 1914, brought American chem- ists to a realization that only a few of the common colors were manufactured in England or in the United States. In all there was not more than 10 per cent of the total consumption manufactured, and they were abso lutely dependent upon Cermany for a supply of virtually all of the most important dye products. The importance of these products cannot be measured hy their own ton n or their own money value. It went far beyond this. It meant that even the overalls of the worker could not be properly dyed; (hat the commonest articles of cloth ing needed by millions of American families were held up: that business after business faced failure in turning out its products. In fact, all of the industries and all human beings in civilized countries pay toll in one way or another to the dye industry. These facts, brought home by the shutting off of the supply, were in- centives to immediate action. This country and all other quarters of the globe were raked and scraped for sup- plies. Textile production was curtailea in every way possible, and both pro- ducers and consumers were aroused to the immediate need of a substantial remedy for such a humiliating situa- tion The answer to the dye problem is the same answer that was made to the munition problem. The compel- ling force of the country needs brought it at once. Build dye plants. In time of war prepare for peace The Du Pont Industry Many chemical establishments throughout the country began to do just this thing, among them the great du Pont organization, which turned its energies in full to solving the dye problem. The chemical department was expanded until it numbered $00 trained men, and on the banks of the Delaware, in New Jersey, at Deepwater Point, on a site adjoining the famous Carneys Point smokeless powder plant, there has been erected, at a cost of more than $10,000,000, the most modern, hest equipped and largest at shortly will make Americ the United PPont Comn- branch of the chemical in- it had plans to the dyestuff industry in this country. announcement more than a year that it had at its disposal: First. The particular it set forth raw materials manufacture of coaltar dves, products of this country and free from European control. Chemical and engineering organizations second to none in mag- nitude and scientific attainment. Third. Unequaled plant tory facilities. and labora- commercial organization. roundwork houses such as the construction of a plant was hegun and many of its units are now in operation turning out dyes superior to the Ger- man produc Little has been said in the commer jts output has been taken over by the Government for manufacturers who are supplying uni for the army. ation of hostilities this supply can be turned into commerci and the plant panded at once bas been almost released for such plant covers an area of a full square mile, and up to date includes seventy separate and distinct buildings, It is but a short step from explo- sives to dyes In days such as these, when explosives are compli ical combinations are, in large part, the bases of the coal- dyes. These coal supplanted natural coloring compounds form and With the ces unobtainable, enterprises. ated chem- ingredients Looking over the great dye plant being erected at Deepwater Point, N. J., by the Du Ponts, one of the oly that has existed for years planted the original gunpowder of the Chinese. America, with her men and muni tions of war, helped to save the world from German military domination; through her dye industry she is equipping herself with the munitions of peace that she may be free from German commercial domination. She had been successful in the first; suc- cess in the second was to be expected The bases from which most of the military high explosives are derived are obtained as by-products of the coking industry, and from the same source are obtained the bases from which are manufactured interme- diates and finally the dyes so much needed today to supply virtually every other industry. This is the reason why all these industries fit comfort at Deepwater Point, . typify the a heritage out of the war ably into the general organization as separate or closely allied units. Or, in other words, take the letter Y; one fork represents the explosive industry and the other t ayestuff industry, the base being the same for both. Endeavors have been made in the early propaganda to fix in the minds of all the logic of development and the strength of the foundation upon which it rests. There was. of course, a substantial opportunity, but the real question was who was best qualified to take advantage of it. In Great Britain it became a govern mental proposition and the same will probably be true in France. In this country governmental aid was never solicited or proposed. Conditions here of course, are very different. The first announcement of the de cision of the qu Pont Company to build an indigo plant was made in July, 1914, Within four weeks the maxi mum output of the plant was engaged by the textile industry for a term of yen ur \ prico arrangement i 1independent of the German dyestuffs monop- satisfactor had never duced indigo and had only just started volved went well into millions and the responsibility delivering contracts; respect to the best that was ever The capacity the United States and Canada Next in importance comes the ‘“vat a group of fast colors for cot- Formerly all colored cotton goods exception of indigo dye rics were looked upon with doubt and of these vat the United introduction revolutionized an industry new power in the world, ti this being in this country adopted the to develop a demand for American cotton fabrics our largest cotton mills made as chambray, workingmen's These shir: The color is in economical the garment is doubled, trip- This is only « as low as fifty cents, led and quadrupled awnings and the olive drab army uni- form cloth used before made from these vat The industries to be served are cot- ton, woolen, silk, I¢ All of these Industries have suf- . paper, paint, 1 durlng the war. Fast colors have entirely disappe ed from the market and in many cases fugitive colors are being substituted. The complaints are many and in most robably well founded. Some the American dyes are not German dyes As a mat type for type, they are trouble ha been and war standards of fast- have entirely disappeared The big object of American manu- facturers is to help these industries to set back as soon as pussible to their rre-war standards of fastness. he questions, Can we compete with Germany? Can we hold the trade? and Can American manufacturers sup-: port the industry? are now uppermost ir the minds of manufacturers. “We Can Hold Our Own” Morris R. Poucher, head of the dye- stuffs sales department for the du Pont Company, answers that, these questions are pertinent and all will have to be met, but he said most posi- tively: “If we did not believe we could Lold our own we would not have started. 1 am not unmindful of the fact that the establishing of this in dustry in the United States, and par- ticularly by this company, means fight- ing against Germany in her most zeal- ously protected industry and in the one industry in which her workers were recognized the world over as leaders. Right here let me give you the opinion of an eminent authority on conditions after the war. In the Lulletin recently issued by tne Guar- anty Trust Company, of New York under the caption of ‘The Inspiration of Adversity,’ T find this sentence ‘In her present temper France re fuses to consider the possibility of re uming purchases of materials in Ger- many as before the war, and she is so confident of what our feeling will be fter more extended contact with the ccmmon enemy that she believes we slall rather buy from her than from Germany. Whatever may be the hopes mankind with respect to the polit- ations after the war, it in France, as in Eng- disposition among financiers, manufacturers and busi- men to eliminate Germany when yroposals affecting economic relation- ships are under consideration.’ England Develops Her Own It seems to me that this is ex- tremely interesting as showing the drift of American thought, but we must cherish no illusions about the matter Indigo and the vat dyes and many other products which are not no manufactured in this country are absolutely essential to the va- rious consuming industries. Trade standards of stness were based upon the use of these products. After the war the manufacturers will get back to their pre-war standards, and the only question will be as to the source of supply. Our whole effort in this enterprise is to so shape our affairs that consumers will have neither reason nor excuse for ever again buying from Germany.” England, too, is developing her dye industry against the time when Germany will seek to come into the market again and KEnglish manufacturers have appealed to their Government to aid them The British Government has al- ready made plans to protect this newly established industry for a period of not less than ten years after the war by a system of import licenses and its financial support to manufac- turers who want to go into special lines of industry. In a recent address made before the House of Commons, Sir Arthur Stanley outlined the plan and Robert P. Skinner, the American consul general at London, has sent formal report to the United States Government on the subject. Sir Arthur Stanley speaks of the manufacture of synthetic dyes as the most important of what are known 1s the key of ‘“pivotal” industries, and he reviewed the efforts made by the Government to build up the in- dustry by giving financial support to manufacturers who were hard hit after the German supply was shut off at the beginning of the war. He sald that plans were being made to give further financial support and that a dye commissioner had been appointed who would undertake to help in the development of the industries along all lines. ‘“Because of our anxiety that this industry should be kept free from any possibility of control from any forelgn source after the war,” he said, “and so that this par- ticular industry may become as rap- idly as possible self-supporting in this country, we have indicated to the dve manufacturers certain proposals which we are willing to agree to with them. In the first place, we are pro- posing that where a manufacturer of dyes will undertake the manufacture of special dyes, and where he is not in a position to secure the necessary money to provide for extensions /to. building a plant, to make a loan at a fixed rate of interest, in no case be- ing less than 5 per cent. The Question of Licenses “Where extensions of plant and buildings are necessary immediately, and where there is difficulty, owing to the excessive costs, of making these extensions, the Government will make some provision to meet the cost of these extensions. It is also proposed to make certain grants in respect to research work.” Speaking of the question of licenses, Sir Arthur said: “There is a further proposal, and that is that, in order to safeguard this particular industry against the great efforts which German dye-mak- ing firms are certain to make after the war, we will adopt a course which I belleve I am right in saying was carefully considered by a cabinet com- mittee of the last Government and recommended to and approved by the Government of that day, and which s since been approved by the pres- ent Government. It is that importa- tion of all foreign dyestuffs shall be controlled by a system of licenses for a period of not less than ten years after the war.” He added that the Government would have to be consulted in many proposed amalgamations of the vari- ous dye manufacturing companies and said that the Government would virtually assume control of the dye industry so as to prevent the forma- tion of enemy monopoly and the pos- sibility of foreign interests securing control. ;( Mo n